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Answers To 11 Of Your Biggest Questions About Getting Married

Posted on November 14, 2018

Congratulations, you’re getting married! This is a wonderful and exciting time in your life.

Planning and organising a wedding is one of those things that you don’t know what you don’t know until you start. Here are eleven of the most important things you need to know when planning your wedding. If you have any questions about any of these items, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.

1. Do I want to combine the ceremony and reception venues?

Decide if you want to have the ceremony and the wedding reception at the same venue or separate the two. There are and pros and cons to both, and you might want to consider:

Same Venue

The weather, especially if you are having a wedding in the colder months of the year, everyone stays warm and dry.

Guest experience, guests can relax while the bridal party are having photos taken

Transport, no need to arrange special cars for the bridal party from one venue to another.

Convenience, the venue may have rooms or a suite that the bridal party can prepare and get dressed for the wedding.

Money, depending on the type of wedding you choose, there could be a cost saving if you choose this option.

Separate Venues

Loads of choice for your ceremony, you can have somewhere with wonderful views for your ceremony. It can be in your own backyard, on the beach or in a park or on a farm.

Loads of choice for your reception, there are many places that cater for weddings such as large hotels, historical buildings, halls and clubs.

Photos, you can have lots of options for your photos. You can have some taken at the ceremony venue and then more at another location before you arrive at the reception venue.

Money, you have the choice with this option to have either a lavish or low frills wedding, or something in between.

Once you’ve decided, be sure to lock your dates in as soon as possible. Some venues are booked years in advance!

2. Do I want an Inside or outside Venue for the Ceremony?

If you want an outside ceremony have an alternative planned to allow for weather extremes on the day, and remember it’s not only rain that can be the problem, strong winds can also cause havoc!

3. Do I want a Church Service or Civil Ceremony?

More and more couples are choosing a civil ceremony conducted by a marriage celebrant. It is a personal choice. You can choose whether to be married in a church by a minister or have a civil ceremony at the venue of your choice.

4. Does our wedding have to have a religious component?

No. Choosing a Marriage Celebrant means that your ceremony does not need to have a religious component and can be conducted at any venue from a back yard or beach, to a winery or a five star hotel.

5. How Do I Find the Right Marriage Celebrant?

Whether you decide on a big, lavish wedding or something small and intimate you will need a celebrant to officiate your marriage. There are many to choose from and it’s important that you find a celebrant you both like who you will be able to work with to make your wedding day just perfect for you.

Choose 2 or 3 and arrange for you and your partner to meet with each celebrant in person, just to make sure you and the celebrant are the perfect fit for each other.

6. What can be included in a Wedding Ceremony?

There are some things that must be included to make your marriage lawful and providing these are included you can have any readings, poems or rituals you wish. Your celebrant will be able to help you with this.

7. What paperwork is there to do to get married?

You must provide proof of age and identity and details of your parents at a minimum, depending on your current personal circumstances. Your celebrant will help you with this.

8. What about the choosing the wedding party?

There is a growing trend for couples to have no attendants at all. Selecting the best man, chief bridesmaid, groomsmen and bridesmaids can be very stressful if you don’t have clear choices and don’t want to hurt people’s feelings.

9. Should I Choose A Formal or Informal Dress Code?

Entirely up to you! Don’t forget it’s your wedding and your choice.

10. What if I’m feeling overwhelmed by questions from wedding providers?

Stay calm and ask for help! You will be dealing with people who have experience with organising weddings and are there to make sure you and your partner have the best day possible. If you are not sure of what you want don’t be afraid to ask them for advice, examples and suggestions.

11. Do I have to get married in the State where I live?

No you don’t, you can get married anywhere in Australia. You may reside in one state and decide to have your wedding in another. You can take your chosen celebrant with you (at your expense) or contact a celebrant in the State you wish to marry.